The heat in women’s basketball doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and on Wednesday Jason Whitlock dipped his toes in the water again, claiming that Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are being paid well in the WNBA.
The conservative sports commentator claimed that outside forces are trying to create a “sense of entitlement” in WNBA players like Reese and Clark.
“The WNBA has never made a profit in its 30-year history, so what kind of company overpays? They already overpay by $75,000 a year. ” exclaimed Whitlock during the “Truth Bomb” segment of the “Fearless” podcast.
“What they’re trying to create in women is a sense of entitlement: ‘Oh, you’re in debt and you’re being abused. You know, you’re going to be like Megan Rapinoe.’ You should be like all the angry feminists who dominated the WNBA and led it to a state of no profit and total irrelevance for over 30 years. is needed.”
Whitlock went on to boast that the WNBA is filled with “an army of angry people from the Alphabet Mafia.”
Whitlock’s comments came amid a debate over whether women’s basketball players are being paid a fair wage as the WNBA began to grow in popularity even before Clark turned pro on Monday.
However, the women’s basketball superstar announced that her four-year rookie contract was only worth $338,056, with her first-year salary set to be $76,535. The salaries of BA players are attracting more and more attention.
The news quickly sparked surprise and anger over how much the deal was worth, and even caught the attention of President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
“Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all.” The president wrote on social media:. “But now we are seeing that women, even the best, are not getting the compensation they deserve.
Here’s everything you need to know about Kaitlyn Clark and her surprising WNBA salary
Caitlin Clark, college basketball’s all-time leading scorer and a newcomer to the organization, was rightfully the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.
Although she hasn’t even played in a game yet, Clark is already one of the biggest names in the WNBA.
Her first-round pick contributed to a 304% increase in viewership for this week’s WNBA Draft. But the conversation surrounding Clark certainly didn’t stop after he signed a four-year contract with the Indiana Fever.
Clark will earn $338,056 over four years. According to the league’s collective bargaining agreement.along with Indiana Fever.
By comparison, 2023 NBA Draft No. 1 pick Victor Wembaneyama signed a $55 million contract.
Television personality Hoda Kotb was extremely distraught about the pay disparity on Tuesday’s “Today” show.
“It seemed kind of ridiculous for someone who is now the face of women’s basketball,” Kotb said.
Kotb called it “disturbing” and brought it up multiple times throughout the morning.
Jemele Hill, a former ESPN journalist and current contributor to The Atlantic, was so frustrated with the discourse surrounding WNBA salaries that she posted a lengthy X post on the subject.
“WNBA players are already frustrated by this conversation because they have been fighting for more money for years. And when they speak up, many Telling them to shut up, reminding them that they are worthless. The NBA has spent over 50 years investing, media coverage, etc. Now, 27 years later, the WNBA will no longer be on top of the world. NBA. So stop comparing them,” Hill wrote on social media.
“Weaponizing this information against WNBA players is another form of misogyny. These women have dreamed all their lives of performing professionally in front of American audiences,” Hill continued. . “Instead of clowning around and reminding us that we’re not, let’s buy some merchandise, go to the game, watch the game on TV.
“It is time to give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure that women are paid the compensation they deserve.”
However, Whitlock did not seem to agree with the president’s position on the issue and continued to criticize those who wanted to portray the situation as women being treated unfairly.
“We’re not being unfair to women,” Whitlock said. “You don’t have to believe every lie told on Twitter or on a college campus.”
With the addition of Clark and increased attention to the WNBA, the debate over their salaries won’t disappear anytime soon.
